Switching from Methadone to Subutex/Suboxone. HELP!?

Long story short I've been on methadone for over a year and doing very well. I decided to deal with an old court case and my judge (who is apparently thinks she's a doctor as well) ordered me to get off methadone completely within six months. I"m terrified. I've been decreasing my dose as the clinic recommended (2mgs every 2 weeks) and I'm now at 74, but there's no way I'll make it down to the 20mgs or so I'd need to be at to go on suboxone in time to please Dr. Judge. I've got about 2 1/2 months left to go. I should've been going down faster but I was hoping to fight her decision... but thats not really medically relevant.

Back to the point, a girl told me she was switching to subutex, her doctor told her she wouldn't have any of the crazy withdrawals since there's no naltrexone. Does anyone know anything about this? Would I really be able to switch right from methadone to subutex without wanting to shoot myself in the face from the pain?? If the subutex thing isn't true, how long do you need to wait to take suboxone after methadone if you're NOT all the way down to 20mgs? My boyfriend waited five days and was in AGONY...

I'm seeing a light at the end of my long dark tunnel but I don't want to get my hopes up too much... Any response would be really, REALLY appreciated.

Responses (3)

AN

Anonymous10 Dec 2009

I am pretty sure that you only have to get down to 30 milligrams of methadone to get into the suboxone/subutex program. You can look up the webpage for suboxone/subutex and it has an 1800 phone number that you can call and get information. I am not positive about getting right on subutex from methadone, but, it is true that it doesn't have the blocker drug in it. They also have a generic for subutex, which makes it alot cheaper than suboxone.Please talk to a pharmacist about your concerns with the subutex, pharmacists usually know more than the docs do about the medicines we take. Best of Luck to you.

If you are worried about the amount that you will be on before taking subutex or suboxone. Stop the methadone 2 days before you start the subs that should put you in a mild to severe w/d, but the worse you feel the better the sub will feel (in most cases) also have your doctor start with a low dose maybe 6 or 8 mgs and continue to take about 2 mgs every hour until you start to feel better. This will not get you high so don't try to wait till you feel that, just that the symptoms are letting up. I have known doctors to keep their pts in the office until this intial time. Once you find a good dose you are going to be suprised at how well you feel. To find a maintainance dose you may have to go through a little discomfort at first, But after awhile you are going to feel like you did before you ever used. THIS IS IMPORTANT don't stop until you break the addiction lifestyle, if at first you are taking more subs than you should or your counting pills every day, don't stop. It takes along time for us to get where you are, you are doing great. Just take the time to beat the physical and mental part of the addiction. Also Good Luck to your boyfriend with subs it does get better, unless you are not ready to clear your head. Good Luck!!! Fight the good Fight!!!

Just to let you know I was in the same boat.I was on methadone for three years I was at 120.I tapered myself down to fifteen milligrams.I switched over to suboxone.The second I felt any discomfort from withdrawing from the methadone i popped an 8 milligaram sub.Within an hour I was fine.I am now taking 16 milligrams a day, one when I wake up and one around dinner time.Dont let anybody scare you or tell you it's the wrong decision.If you take your methadone in the morning,when you wake up the next day see how far you can go before you start getting really uncomfortable,and once that happens take it,you will be fine.